McLean County Demographics

A map of McLean County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	8,652	8,372	88.1%	85.7%
Native American/Other	554	790	5.6%	8.1%
Multiracial	306	381	3.1%	3.9%
Hispanic	201	148	2.0%	1.5%
Asian	100	48	1.0%	0.5%
Black	10	32	0.1%	0.3%

McLean County, North Dakota has an estimated population of 9,823, a less than 1% change from the 9,771 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.1% White, 5.6% Native American/Other, 3.1% Multiracial, 2.0% Hispanic, 1.0% Asian, and 0.1% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of McLean County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

McLean has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Dakota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In McLean County, that probability was 25.8% in 2020 and 21.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

McLean County is ranked the 15th most populous county in North Dakota, out of 53 counties. McLean County was ranked the 16th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

McLean County's White Population

8,652 residents of McLean County, or 88.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in McLean County is higher than in North Dakota overall, where 81.7% of the population is White. McLean County ranks 39th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.3%. White residents' share of McLean County's population has increased from 85.7% to 88.1%.

McLean County is more White than neighboring Ward County (80.4% White), and Morton County (86.7% White). McLean County is less White than neighboring Oliver County (99% White), Mercer County (91.3% White), and McHenry County (94% White).

McLean County's Black Population

10 residents of McLean County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in McLean County is slightly lower than in North Dakota overall, where 3.3% of the population is Black. McLean County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's Black population has declined by an estimated 68.8%. Black residents' share of McLean County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

McLean County is more Black than neighboring Oliver County (0% Black), and Mercer County (0% Black). McLean County is less Black than neighboring Ward County (3.9% Black), Morton County (1.6% Black), and McHenry County (0.8% Black).

McLean County's Asian Population

100 residents of McLean County, or 1.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in McLean County is comparable to the share in North Dakota overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. McLean County ranks 24th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 108.3%. Asian residents' share of McLean County's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.0%.

McLean County is more Asian than neighboring Oliver County (0% Asian), Mercer County (0.5% Asian), Morton County (0.1% Asian), and McHenry County (0.2% Asian). McLean County is less Asian than neighboring Ward County (1.5% Asian).

McLean County's Hispanic Population

201 residents of McLean County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in McLean County is slightly lower than in North Dakota overall, where 4.7% of the population is Hispanic. McLean County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 35.8%. Hispanic residents' share of McLean County's population has increased from 1.5% to 2.0%.

McLean County is more Hispanic than neighboring Oliver County (1% Hispanic). McLean County is less Hispanic than neighboring Mercer County (2.8% Hispanic), Ward County (7.2% Hispanic), Morton County (4.4% Hispanic), and McHenry County (2.2% Hispanic).

McLean County's Native American/Other Population

554 residents of McLean County, or 5.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in McLean County is comparable to the share in North Dakota overall, where 4.7% of the population is Native American/Other. McLean County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 29.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of McLean County's population has decreased from 8.1% to 5.6%.

McLean County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Oliver County (0% Native American/Other), Mercer County (2.4% Native American/Other), Ward County (2% Native American/Other), Morton County (4.6% Native American/Other), and McHenry County (1% Native American/Other).

McLean County's Multiracial Population

306 residents of McLean County, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in McLean County is comparable to the share in North Dakota overall, where 4% of the population is Multiracial. McLean County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McLean County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 19.7%. Multiracial residents' share of McLean County's population has decreased from 3.9% to 3.1%.

McLean County is more Multiracial than neighboring Oliver County (0.1% Multiracial), Mercer County (2.9% Multiracial), Morton County (2.6% Multiracial), and McHenry County (1.9% Multiracial). McLean County is less Multiracial than neighboring Ward County (5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.